Tuesday, October 14, 2008

The Stalkerific Romance Hero

I think you are probably going... The what hero? Well it's a made up word. It's my word for the romance hero who's obsession for the heroine borders on being stalkerish if it was real life.

The stalkerific hero has appeal in romances. Let me tell you something. I believe that most women want to be adored like in the Stone Roses song from the 80s. You want to feel like you are the sun and the man is the earth, orbiting around you. Does this happen in real life? Probably not to most women. But in the romance book...It can happen.

The stalkerific hero can also be called the hero in pursuit. Once he realizes that he is in love or maybe he still thinks it's lust, he becomes totally fixated on the heroine. His body, mind, and soul is focused on her. He'll do anything, break any rule to have her. Again, very appealing.

Real life, not so much. How would you feel if you were a heroine who always manages to see said hero staring at her at every ball she attends. He is invited to every party she goes to. He tracks her down, even buys the company she works at, just so she can stay in his proximity. He knows where she lives. He might even kidnap you and take you to his private island or enclave in the middle of nowhere. And forget about not ending up in this guy's bed or married to him. It's going to happen, whether you want it or not. Real life, that is a scary proposition, even if you like this guy.

In romances, if well done, I find this very appealing. That is not to say that I haven't read a few books where it icked me out more than a little. But I have to say it's a refreshing change from the hero who tried to avoid the heck out of the hero because HE DOES NOT LOVE HER!!!! HE REALLY DOESN'T. LOVE DOESN'T EXIST. You know the whole spiel. In their defense, some of these guys are shapeshifters or vampires. In other words, it's in their blood to be possessive over their mates. Maybe that's why I like paranormals. (Big grin). Let me just warn you, these books may not be the most P.C. romance novels. But I think they are interesting and enjoyable in a fantasy/strictly between the pages of a book capacity.

What are some good stalkerific heroes? Here is a list of the heroes in books that I have read that could be classified as stalkerific. Thanks to All About Romance as a resource, since I can't always remember the names of the characters.

  • Simon Hunt from Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas
  • Derek Craven from Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
  • Wynter, Viscount Ruskin from Rules of Surrender by Christina Dodd
  • Christopher Raine from The Care and Feeding of Pirates by Jennifer Ashley
  • Comte d'Esmond from Captives of the Night by Loretta Chase
  • Charles Harcourt from Beast by Judith Ivory
  • Ruan, Duke of Cynnsyr from Lord Ruin by Carolyn Jewel
  • Arden Mansfield, Lord Winter from The Dream Hunter by Laura Kinsale
  • Sylvester "Devil" Cynster, Duke of Ives from Devil's Bride by Stephanie Laurens
  • Major Michael Fallon from Must Have Been the Moonlight by Melody Thomas
  • Roger "Sam" Starret from the Team 16 Books and Gone too Far by Suzanne Brockmann
  • Adrik Winter aka "Warlord" from Into the Shadow by Christina Dodd
  • Jasha Wilder from Scent of Darkness by Christina Dodd
  • Rurik Wilder from Touch of Darkness by Christina Dodd
  • Doug Black from Into the Fire by Christina Dodd
  • Clayton Danvers from Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
  • Nikolai Wroth from The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole
  • Lochlain MacRieve from A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
  • Sebastian Wroth from No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole
  • Bowen MacRieve from Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night by Kresley Cole
  • Conrad Wroth from Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole
  • Courtland MacCarrick from If You Dare by Kresley Cole
  • Hugh MacCarrick from If You Desire by Kresley Cole
  • Ethan MacCarrick from If You Decieve by Kresley Cole
  • Dageus MacKeltar from The Dark Immortal by Karen Marie Moning
  • Cian MacKeltar from The Spell of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning
  • Remington Knight from One Kiss from You by Christina Dodd
  • Gabriel Ansell, Earl of Campion, Scandalous Again by Christina Dodd
  • Sebastian Durant, Viscount Whitfield from A Well-Pleasured Lady by Christina Dodd
  • Luke Bardell from Ritual Sins by Anne Stuart
  • Michael Dubrovnik from Glass Houses by Anne Stuart
  • Anthony Malory from Tender Rebel by Johanna Lindsey
  • Adrian de Lancey, Earl of Shropshire from Uncommon Vows by Mary Jo Putney
  • Lord Raith from The Rogue's Seduction by Georgina Devon
  • Ransom Quincy, Marquess of Blackburn from That Scandalous Evening
  • Robert Mackenzie, Earl of Hepburn from Some Enchanted Evening
  • Heroes from Once Upon a Pillow by Christina Dodd/Connie Brockway
  • Damien De La Sola from Treasure of the Sun by Christina Dodd
  • Adam Keane from Princess by Christina Dodd
  • Prince Damior of Baminia from The Runaway Princess
  • Crown Prince Damien from Penelope and Prince Charming by Jennifer Ashley
  • Austin Blackwell from Perils of the Heart by Jennifer Ashley
  • Rafe MacGinnis from Rafe's Revenge
  • Nicholas Blackthorne from A Rose at Midnight by Anne Stuart
  • Elliot Chalmers from Some Sort of Spell by Frances Roding
  • Wolf Mackenzie from Mackenzie's Mountain by Linda Howard
  • Joe Mackenzie from Mackenzie's Mission by Linda Howard
  • Zane Mackenzie from Mackenzie's Pleasure by Linda Howard
  • Chance Mackenzie from A Game of Chance by Linda Howard
  • Micah Steele from The Last Mercenary by Diana Palmer
  • Justin Kinmurrie, Duke of Kylemore from Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell
  • James Malory from Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey
  • Christoff, Marquess of Langford from The Smoke Thief by Shana Abe
  • Lucas Hunter from Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
  • Vaughn De Angelo from Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh
  • Clay Bennett from Mine to Possess by Nalini Singh
  • Michael Wyndham from Love's Prisoner by MaryJanice Davidson
  • Vane Kattalakis from Night Play by Sherrilyn Kenyon
  • Dante Pontis from Winter Born by Sherrilyn Kenyon
  • Wrath from Dark Lover by JR Ward
  • Rhage from Lover Eternal by JR Ward
  • Zsadist from Lover Awakened by JR Ward
  • Butch from Lover Revealed by JR Ward
  • Vishous from Lover Unbound by JR Ward
  • Gyles Rawlings, Earl of Chillingworth from All About Passion by Stephanie Laurens
  • Marcus Savin from The Mercenary by Cherry Adair
  • Lucas Kendrick, Duke of Harndon from Heartless by Mary Balogh
  • Sir Ross Cannon from Lady Sophia's Lover by Lisa Kleypas
  • Nick Gentry from Worth Any Price by Lisa Kleypas
  • John McKenna from Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas
  • Prince Dmitri Petroff from Secret Fire by Johanna Lindsey
  • Phillip Caxton from Captive Bride by Johanna Lindsey
  • Selig Hardraad from Surrender My Love by Johanna Lindsey
  • Valerian from The Nymph King by Gena Showalter

...an honorable mention to most of the Harlequin Presents heroes who are stalkerific in a scary way as they really don't want to love the heroine, but can't resist her, and they make her pay for it.

If you see some missing, please feel free to post a comment. I haven't read Christine Feehan, or I am sure some of the Carpathians would be on here. I've heard about those guys. :)

4 comments:

Shartyrant said...

I just awarded you the "I love your blog award". It's posted at my livejournal at www.shartyrant.livejournal.com.

In case your wondering, I am Shar on the two Yahoo groups with you. Just spreading the book love. >:)

Unknown said...

I am proud to see Lord Ruin in such exalted company!

Great list, you've included many of my favorite romances.

Carolyn Jewel

Michelle Lauren said...

Wow! This is such a long list. I haven't read most of the books -- except those by Karen Marie Moning-- although I do have some of the Kresley Cole's on my TBR pile. It's funny because, I think the majority of heroes in romances carry some of the stalkerific genes that women would shy away from in real life. On the printed page, though, these "I'll do anything to have her type of men can exude a sexiness that is appealing.

Good job with this list!

BTW-- We're in the same Fans of IR Yahoo group.

Michelle Lauren
www.michellelaurenbooks.com

V'lane said...

Michelle said...
Wow! This is such a long list. I haven't read most of the books -- except those by Karen Marie Moning--

hey! same here! just loooove the fever series... it's actually 'believable' and full of wit - which is very important so it doesn't get stupid